Dolce Vita

Extremely lightweight, inflated ETFE Roof with incorporated shading devices for Shopping Mall & 80m span Plaza Area. With a total area of 50,000 sqm, the Structure is the largest of its kind in Europe.

The roof measures 50,000 sqm making this structure the largest inflated ETFE roof in Europe. The structure is divided into two primary areas called the mall and the plaza. The plaza structure spans 80 metres and is extremely lightweight as the inflated cushions have little weight and Lisbon requires no allowance for snow load. One of the biggest challenges was to reduce the solar gain but maintain adequate daylight levels. This is the first ETFE roof to use selective coatings. In addition, the 10m x 10m x 4m deep cushions incorporate shading on opposite corners on the upper and lower surface. This cuts out all direct sunlight but creates large elliptical formed rooflights allowing plenty of daylight to penetrate into the space.

Scheme Architect: RTKL London, Local Architect: Promontorio, Environmental design: Transsolar, Client: Chamartin, Completed: May 2009

Awards: Portuguese steel design award 2011